Middle East Ceasefire: Israel and Hezbollah Pact Ends Nine-Year Standoff

Truce Breaks Nine-Year Impasse Between Israel and Hezbollah

A ceasefire crafted to conclude an ongoing 13-month confrontation between Israel and the Lebanese militia, Hezbollah, is now operative. The deal, endorsed by France and the US, proposes a halt to violence in Lebanon, shielding Israel from aggressions staged by Hezbollah and other Lebanon-based militant groups.

The agreement allows Hezbollah a span of 60 days to terminate its military presence in southern Lebanon. Concurrently, Israeli forces are assigned an identical period to retreat from the same region.

A Prelude to Enduring Establish

US President Joe Biden apprised the media by describing the ceasefire as a set-up envisaged for enduring cessation of hostilities. The 13-point agreement, signed between the governments of Israel and Lebanon – not involving Hezbollah – elucidates that the nations are inclined to devise conditions favorable for an enduring, comprehensive solution.

Moreover, the Lebanese administration is deemed committed to warding off Hezbollah and other militias on Lebanese soil from initiating assaults against Israel. Similarly, Israel is set to refrain from taking offensive measures against Lebanon's civilian, military, or other state targets. The deal underscores the full implementation, without violation, of the UN Security Council resolution 1701, marking an end to the last war in 2006.

Deployment Tactics and Future Challenges

As President Biden announced that the seasoned militant infrastructure of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon will not be permitted to be reconstructed, the ceasefire protocol provides for the slow but steady retraction of Israeli troops to positions south of the Blue Line, following a 60-day period. Concurrently, the Lebanese army will mobilize in parallel to the positions.

The Lebanese military is to disassemble all infrastructures and military positions, confiscating all unauthorized arms in the Southern Litani Area while also preventing the illicit ingress of weapons into Lebanon and disassembling any unauthorized weapon-producing facilities.

However, the mandate for the Lebanese troops to enforce the ceasefire raises questions, and any face-off with Hezbollah could potentially heighten sectarian tension. The Lebanese army has expressed an inadequacy of resources – finance, manpower, and equipment – to realize their responsibilities. The deal indicates the US and France's intent to join hands with the global community to support and boost its natural capacities.

The Watchful Eyes of Nations Overseas

For the oversight of execution, the US and France have joined the pre-existing Tripartite Mechanism involving Unifil, the Israeli military, and the Lebanese army. The US will chair this reformed and amplified mechanism, with the mandate to surveil, certify, and aid in enforcing the mutual commitments. Both Israel and Lebanon will be obligated to report alleged contraventions to this mechanism.